Edurne Pasaban knows her way around the mountains of the world. She is one of the first women to have climbed all of the 14 8,000-metre peaks. Edurne comes from the Basque country in the North of Spain. In June 2015, the strong Spaniard will go to the Swiss Alps and lead a very special GORE-TEX® Experience Tour project: Edurne embarks on a trail of Lucy Walker, another strong woman and true pioneer of mountaineering. On the 21st July 1864 Lucy Walker succeeded in the first ascent of the Balmhorn – a mighty rock and Eisgipfels in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. With this success, the intrepid Englishwoman wrote alpine history.
Edurne Pasaban, one of the most successful mountaineers of our time, in June 2015, will follow in the footsteps of Lucy Walker – or rather walk and climb. The Balmhorn is the focus of her latest project as part of the GORE-TEX® Experience Tour (GET). Together with selected guides Edurne will recharge history and ascend the Balmhorn – and you, dear reader, can be part of it: On http://www.experience-tour.com/ you can apply to be in with a chance to be recreate history and climb the Balmhorn in June 2015.
Is Lucy Walker an inspiration?
“With her spirit, her will power and her skill she most definitely is! Even now, 150 years later, mountaineering achievements of women are judged differently than those of men which makes all the more remarkable the adventures of Lucy in the mid-19th century, “says Edurne Pasaban, in turn a role-model for many mountaineers and climbers.
Lucy Walker ascents, in view of the prevailing conditions, her health and equipment are greatly respected. The English lady’s success on the Balmhorn in 1864 was followed by other great climbs. Even if she was not the first man on the world-famous peaks such as Wetterhorn, Liskamm and Piz Bernina, she was the first woman to climb these giant mountains. With the ascent of the Matterhorn in 1871, she proved definitively, that she was most capable.
As for her appearance on the mountain, women in the 21st century have come a long way. Lucy wore a long petticoat through the rock and ice of the high mountains. Sweeping skirts and dresses were the thing of the day – even up the mountains. Lucy’s diet on the mountain was also unique. She celebrated with champagne and sponge cake on her ascent of the Eiger.
Respect and appreciation, adventure and enjoyment. Today, many things are different, but many remain the same. Edurne Pasaban says: “The decisive factor is to take on the challenging goal of reaching the summit – the will, the enthusiasm. Crucial to the success are the skills, the conditions on the mountain and the equipment. Regarding the latter, climbers of today have significant advantages over Lucy. This makes climbing the Balmhorn today a terrific pleasure, even for experienced mountaineers!”
The GORE-TEX® athlete Edurne Pasaban and the GET winning team, which is composed of candidates form all across Europe, will not tread new paths at the Balmhorn, will not venture into the unknown and (hopefully) do not experience any unpredictable adventure. But with brilliant views over the Alpine peaks, with the right equipment and good shoes will follow in the footsteps of Lucy Walker, who took on this adventure with hobnailed leather shoes, a flowing skirt and a lady’s hat and was the first person on the top – over 150 years ago!
Apply Now
On http://www.experience-tour.com/ you can apply for the climbing experience. Two climbers have the chance to walk along with Edurne Pasaban in the footsteps of Lucy Walker, dressed, of course, in up-to-date GORE-TEX® products. GORE-TEX® garments are not only durable, they are also very easy to maintain. Regular washing and drying ensures optimal function and prolongs the life.
INFO: GORE-TEX®
